File holder



FILE HOLDER Filed April 25, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3 i i-W3: .u 31 25282226:: go 1.2 20 20 Iva/8721 67":-

Wilfred/WW0 @6443;

Oct. 6, 1970 w. M. M coRD, JR

FILE HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1968 United States Patent3,531,841 FILE HOLDER Wilfred M. McCord, Jr., Louisville, Ky., assignorto Vermont American Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Apr. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 724,091 Int. Cl. B23d 71/00,71/04, 73/04 US. Cl. 29-78 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to a holder for a flexiblefile, by means of which holder the flexible file may be flexed into andmaintained in a selected flat or concavely or convexly curvedconfiguration.

It is characteristic of known holders for flexible files which can adoptsuch various configurations that the flexible file must be screwedadjacent to its opposite ends flush against the underside of a framehaving front and back upright bracket portions, and that a turnbucklethen must be adjusted, either to draw together these bracket portionsthereby to induce a convexly curved configuration in the flexible file,or to draw apart these bracket portions thereby to induce a concavelycurved configuration in the flexible file. Examples of such holders aredescribed in US. Pats. No. 1,956,882 and No. 2,127,176.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of this invention to provide anovel and useful holder for a flexible file, by means of which theflexible file may be flexed into and maintained in a selected flat orconcavely or convexly curved configuration.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which there is no need to screw the file to the undersideof the frame of the holder.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a holder, asdescribed, in which there is no need for a turnbuckle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which clip means are used to removably fix the file to theframe of the holder.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which the clip means positively press the file against theunderside of the bottom portion of the frame of the holder, irrespectiveof the flat or concavely or convexly curved configuration of the file.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which slip-joint means are used to flex the frame and fileinto a selected flat or concavely or convexly curved configuration foruse on a correspondingly shaped work surface.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which the slip joint means comprises adjustablyoverlapping top portions of the frame of the holder and releasablelocking means for releasably locking together such adjustablyoverlapping top portions and thereby maintaining the file in a selectedconfiguration.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder,

as described, in which both adjustably overlapping top portions of theframe of the holder are corrugated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which two handles may be pulled apart or pushed togetherto flex the file into a selected flat or concavely or convexly curvedconfiguration.

It is another object of this invention to provide a holder, asdescribed, in which the frame of the holder is made in one piece.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention areevident from the following description, with the aid of the annexeddrawings, of a presently preferred embodiment and an alternativeembodiment of this invention, in which the foregoing clip means andslipjoint means are incorporated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder of the presently preferred formembodying the principles of this invention, showing the holder holding asheet metal file in a flexed concave configuration;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the foregoing holder and file,showing the holder holding the file in a flexed convex configuration;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the foregoing holder and file, takensubstantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the foregoing holder andfile, taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and looking in thedirection of the arrows;

FIG. 5 in a sectional view of one end of the foregoing holder and file,taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 4 and looking in the directionof the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a holder of an alternative formembodying the principles of this invention, showing the holder holding asheet metal file in a flat configuration;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the foregoing holder and file, takensubstantially along line 77 of FIG. 6 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the foregoing holder andfile, taken substantially along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the foregoing holder and file, takensubstantially along line 99 of FIG. 8 and looking in the direction ofthe arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 1 through 5,there is shown a holder 10 holding a flexible sheet metal file 12. Theholder 10 constitutes the presently preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

The holder 10 is designed to hold a sheet metal file or any other typeof suitably adapted elongated flexible blade. It is designed to flex thefile or blade into a selected flat or concavely curved or convexlycurved configuration and to maintain the file or blade in the selectedconfiguration, thereby permitting the file or blade to conform to agiven work surface for automotive body work, cabinet work, and the like.

The holder 10 comprises a sheet metal frame 14, which preferably isformed in one piece. The frame 14 includes a first end portion 16, asecond end portion 18, an elongated flexible bottom portion 20connecting the end portions 16 and 18, a first top portion 22 extendingfrom the first end portion 16, and a second top portion 24 extendingfrom the second end portion 18 and adjustably overlapping the first topportion 22. Bottom portion 20 provides a surface for engaging a flatside of the file 12.

The elongated sheet metal file 12, which has a flat configuration whenunflexed, has an upturned and backtumed tab 26 (FIGS. 3 and 4) adjacentto its first end 28 and a similar tab 30 adjacent to its second end 32.These tabs 26 and 30 are formed by respective angle members 26a and 30a,which are Welded or otherwise suitably fastened in place. Because theholder may be used to stroke the file 12 in either longitudinaldirection, or in a transverse direction, depending on the orientation ofthe teeth of the file 12, it does not matter which end of the file 12 isdesignated as the first end 28.

The first end portion 16 of the frame 14 is removably fastened to thefirst end 28 of the file 12 by first clip means 34, and the second endportion 18 is removably fastened to the second end 32 of the file 12 bysecond clip means 36. The clip means 34 and 36 are identical. The clipmeans 34 and 36, acting on the tabs 26 and 30 in a manner to bedescribed below, positively press the file 12 against the undersurfaceof the bottom portion 20 of the frame 14, regardless of theconfiguration of the frame.

The first end portion 16 of the frame 14, as may be seen best in FIGS. 3and 4, has a tab-receiving opening 38, Within which the tab 26 isreceived. The first clip means 34 comprising an inner clip member 40having a threaded aperture 42, an outer clip member 44 having an alignedaperture 46, and stud means 47 passing through the aperture 46 in theouter clip member 44 and an aligned aperture 48 in the first end portion16 of the frame 14 and threadably engaging the threaded aperture 42 inthe inner clip member 40. The tab 26 extends between the outer clipmember 44 and the inner clip member 40, as shown, and the clip members44 and 40' when drawn together by the stud means 47 grip the tab 26therebetween and engage it at spaced locations and thereby exert acoupling action on it. This tends to vertically align the tab 26,thereby exerting a positive bending moment on the file 12 adjacent toits first end 28. The outer clip member 44 is bent at one end to fitinto an indentation 49 in th first end portion 16 of the frame 14 tokeep it from turning with the stud means 47.

The second end portion 18 of the frame 14 has a similar tab-receivingopening 50, within which the tab 30 is received. The second clip means36 is identical to the first clip means 34. It comprises an inner clipmember 52 having a threaded aperture 54, an outer clip member 56 havingan aligned aperture 58, and stud means 59 passing through the aperture58 in the outer clip member 56 and an aligned aperture 60 in the secondend portion 18 of the frame 14 and threadably engaging the threadedaperture 54 in the inner clip member 52. The tab 30 extends between theouter clip member 56 and the inner clip member 52, and the clip members56 and 52 when drawn together by the stud means 59 grip the tab 30therebetween and engage it at spaced locations and thereby exert acoupling action on it. This tends to vertically align the tab 30,thereby exerting a positive bending moment on the file 12 adjacent toits second end. The outer clip member 56 is bent at one end to fit intoan indentation 61 in the secondend portion 18 of the frame 14 to keep itfrom turning with the stud means 59.

By the foregoing arrangement, the file 12 is positively pressed againstthe underside of the bottom portion 20 of the frame 14, irrespective ofthe flat or concavely curved or convexly curved configuration of theframe. As may be seen in FIG. 4, the outer clip member 44 and inner clipmember 40 of the first clip means 34 engage the first end portion 16 ofthe frame 14 only at the opposite sides of the identation 49, and theouter clip member 56 and inner clip member 52 of the second clip means36 engage the second end portion 18 of the frame 14 only at the oppositesides of the indentation 61. For this reason, the clip means 34 and 36may pivot relative to the frame 14, generally upon the opposite sides ofthe respective indentations 49 and 61, to allow relative movement of thefile 12 and the bottom portion 20 of the frame 14 as they are 4 beingflexed. Therefore, there is no need to loosen the stud means 47 and 59while the file 12 is being flexed from one configuration to another. Thefile 12 remains positively pressed against the underside of the bottomportion 20 of the frame 14 at all times.

Provision is made for chips raised from the work surface by the sheetmetal file 12 to pass upwardly through the multiple openings x (FIGS. 1and 2) associated with the respective multiple teeth of the file 12. Tothis end, the bottom portion 20 of the frame 14 has two marginal strips62 and 64 laterally bordering an open central area 66. It is convenientfor the tab-receiving openings 38 and 50 and the open central area 66 tobe continuous, as shown.

In addition, the holder 10 comprises adjustable slipjoint means 68 foradjustably changing the relative positions of the first and second endportions 16 and 18 of the frame 14 and thereby adjustably flexing theframe 14 and file 12 into a selected flat or concavely or convexlycurved configuration. The slip-joint means 68 includes the adjustablyoverlapping first and second top portions 22 and .24 of the frame 14,and releasable locking means 70 for releasably locking together theseadjustably overlapping top portions 22 and 24 to maintain the relativepositions of the first and second end portions 16 and 18 of the frame 14and thereby maintain the file 12 in a selected configuration.

The first top portion 22 of the frame 14 is relatively short and thesecond top portion 24 relatively long, with the result that they overlapnear the first end portion 16 of the frame 14. The entire first topportion 22 is formed with a plurality of transverse undulatingcorrugations A (FIG. 4). At least the overlapping part of the second topportion 24 is formed with a plurality of transverse undulatingcorrugations B, which are adapted to interfit the corrugations A of thefirst top portion 22 at any of several overlapping positions thatcorrespond to respective adjustments of the slip-joint means 68. By oneadjustment of the slip-joint means 68, the file 12 assumes an unflexedflat configuration, as shown in FIG. 4. By another adjustment of theslip-joint means 68, the file 12 assumes a concavely curvedconfiguration, as shown in FIG. 1. By yet another adjustment thereof,the file 12 assumes a convexly curved configuration, as shown in FIG. 2.More severely curved configurations may be induced by further similaradjustments of the slip-joint means 68.

The releasable locking means 70 comprises a belt 72 passing upwardlythrough a. circular opening 74 in the first top portion 22 of the frame14 and through an oblong slot 76 in the second top portion 24, apressure plate 78 having a circular opening 80 for the bolt 72, a spacer82 having a circular opening 84 for the bolt 72, and a bolt-receivingmember 86 having a threaded socket 88 for the bolt 72. The pressureplate 78, which adds rigidity to the slip-joint means 68, has downturnedmarginal flanges 89 (FIG. 3) that keep it from turning with the bolt 72.For convenience, the bolt-receiving member 86 is elongated and roundedto provide a first hand-grip or handle 90. The range of adjustments ofthe slip-joint means 68 is determined by the length of the oblong slot76 and by the number of corrugations B in the second top portion 24 ofthe frame 14.

A second hand-grip or handle 92 is provided near the second end portion18 of the frame 14 by a similarly shaped bolt-receiving member 94. Abolt 96 passes upwardly through a circular opening 98 in the second topportion 24 of the frame 14, and through a spacer 100 having a circularopening 102 for the bolt 96, into a threaded socket 104 in the member 94to secure the mem ber 94 to the frame 14.

The handles and 92 facilitate manual adjustment of the slip-joint means68. The handle 90 normally is tightened only finger-tight, in order thatthe bolt 72 may be loosened without difficulty by turning the handle 90relative thereto. When the bolt 72 has been loosened, the slip-jointmeans 68 may be adjusted by pulling apart or pushing together thehandles 90 and 92, whereupon the bolt 72 should be retightened byturning the handle 90 relative thereto. That the second top portion 24of the frame 14 is flexed when the file 12 assumes a concavely orconvexly curved configuration may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The width ofthe second top portion 24 of the frame 14 controls the flexingcharacteristics and stiffness of the holder 10.

When the file 12 is to be mounted in the holder 10, the bolt 72 of thereleasable locking means 70 is loosened, and the slip-joint means 68 isadjusted to allow the flexible bottom portion 20 of the frame 14 toassume a fiat configuration. The clip means 34 and 36 are loosened byturning the respective stud means 47 and 59. The file 12 is placedagainst the underside of the bottom portion 20 such that the tabs 26 and30 are received in the respective tab-receiving openings 38 and 50.Thereupon, the clip means 34 and 36 are tightened by turning the studmeans 47 and 59. It is not necessary to loosen the clip means 34 and 36to change the configuration of the file 12. The unlocked slip-jointmeans 68 may be manually adjusted so as to place the file 12 in aselected concavely or convexly curved configuration, or the file 12 maybe left in its unflexed flat configuration. Thereupon, the bolt 72 ofthe releasable locking means 70 is tightened to releasably lock theslip-joint means 68 to maintain the file 12 in the selectedconfiguration. Then the file 12 is ready for use.

ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENT In FIGS. 6 through 9, there is shown a holder 100holding a flexible sheet metal file 102. The holder 100 constitutes analternative embodiment of this invention.

The holder 100 is designed to hold a sheet metal file or any other typeof suitably adapted elongated flexible blade. It is comparable to theearlier-described holder in that it is designed to flex the file orblade into a selected flat or concavely or convexly curvedconfiguration, thereby permitting the file or blade to conform to agiven work surface for automotive body work, cabinet work, and the like.

The frame 104 of the holder 100 includes a first end portion 106, asecond end portion 108, an elongated flexible bottom portion 110connecting the end portions 106 and 108, and an adjustable top portion112. The bottom portion 110 provides a surface which is adapted toengage the file 102.

The elongated sheet metal file 102 is identical to the earlier-describedfile 12 and has a flat configuration when unflexed. It has an upturnedand backturned tab 116 adjacent to its first end 118 and a similar tab120 adjacent to its second end 122. These tabs 116 and 120 are formed byrespective angle members 116a and 120a, which are welded or otherwisesuitably fastened in place. Because the holder 100 may be used to strokethe file 102 in either longitudinal direction, or in a transversedirection, depending on the orientation of the teeth of the file 102, itdoes not matter which end of the file 102 is designated as the first end118.

The first end portion 106 of the frame 104 is removably fastened to thefirst end 118 of the file 102 by first clip means 124, and the secondend portion 108 is removably fastened to the second end 122 of the file102 by second clip means 126. The clip means 124 and 126 are identicalto the earlier-described clip means 34 and 36. They positively press thefile 102 against the undersurface of the bottom portion 110 of the frame104 by exerting forces on tabs 116 and 120, respectively, tending tovertically align them and thereby exerting positive bending moments onthe file 102 adjacent to its respective ends 118 and 122.

The first end portion 106 of the frame 104 comprises a casting 128,which may be made of steel or other suitable metal. The casting 128 hasan end Wall 130, a top wall 132, opposite side walls 134 and 136, and alongitudinally disposed inner ridge 138 depending from the top wall 132.The end wall has a central cut-away bottom opening 140, within which thetab 116 is received, as shown.

The first clip means 124 comprises an inner clip member 142 having athreaded aperture 144, an outer clip member 146 having an alignedaperture 148, and stud means 150 passing through the aperture 148 in theouter clip member 146 and an aligned aperture 152 in the end wall 130and threadably engaging the threaded aperture 144 in the inner clipmember 142. The tab 116 extends between the outer clip member 146 andthe inner clip member 142, as shown, and the clip members 146 and 142are drawn together by the stud means 150 to grip the tab 116therebetween and tend to vertically align the tab 116 thereby to exert apositive bending moment on the file 102 adjacent to its first end 118,as mentioned hereinbefore. The outer clip member 146 is bent at one endto fit into an indentation 154 in the end wall 130 to keep it fromturning with the stud means 150.

The second end portion 108 of the frame 104 is similar to the first endportion 106, except as otherwise noted hereinafter, and comprises acasting 158, which also may be made of steel or other suitable metal.The casting 158 has an end wall 160, a top wall 162, opposite side walls164 and 166, and a longitudinally disposed inner ridge 168 dependingfrom the top wall 162. The end Wall has a cut-away central bottomopening 170, within which the tab 120 is received, as shown.

The second clip means 126, which is identical to the first clip means124, comprises an inner clip member 172 having a threaded aperture 174,an outer clip member 176 having an aligned aperture 178, and stud means180 passing through the aperture 178 in the outer clip member 176 and analigned aperture 182 in the end wall 160 and threadably engaging thethreaded aperture 174 in the inner clip member 172. The tab 120 extendsbetween the outer clip member 176 and the inner clip member 172, and theclip members 176 and 172 are drawn together by the stud means 180 togrip the tab 120 therebetween and tend to vertically align the tab 120thereby to exert a positive bending moment on the file 102 adjacent toits second end 122. The outer clip member 176 is bent at one end to fitin an indentation 184 in the end wall 160' to keep it from turning withthe stud means 180. By the foregoing arrangement, the file 102 ispositively pressed against the undersurface of the bottom portion 110 ofthe frame 104, irrespective of the concavely or convexly curved or flatconfiguration of the frame 104.

As may be seen in FIG. 7, the outer clip member 146 and inner clipmember 142 of the first clip means 124 engage the end Wall 130 of thefirst end portion 106 of the frame 104 only at the opposite sides of theindentation 154, and the outer clip member 176 and the inner clip member172 of the second clip means 126 engage the end wall 160 of the secondend portion 108 of the frame 104 only at the opposite sides of theindentation 184. For this reason, the clip means 124 and 126 may pivotrelative to the frame 104, generally along the lines on the oppositesides of the respective indentations 154 and 184, to allow relativemovement of the file 102 and the bottom portion 110 of the frame 104 asthe frame and file are being flexed. Therefore, there is no need toloosen the stud means 150 and 180 while the file 102 is being flexedfrom one position to another. The file 102 remains positively pressedagainst the underside of the bottom portion 110 of the frame 104.

In the foregoing respects, the holder 100 is basically similar to theearlier-described holder 10.

As with the earlier-described holder 10, with the holder 100 provisionis made for chips raised from the work surface by the sheet metal file102 to pass upwardly through the multiple openings (not shown)associated with the respective multiple teeth of the file 102. To thisend, the bottom portion 110 of the frame 104 comprises two marginalstrips 192 and 194 laterally bordering an open central area 196. Themarginal strip 192 is formed by an elongated member 198 having first andsecond U-sectioned end portions 200 and 2.02, which are riveted orotherwise suitably connected to the respective end portions 106 and 108of the frame 104, with the first end portion 200 of the member 198 beingconnected to the side wall 134 of the casting 128 and the second endportion 202 of the member 198 being connected to the side wall 164 ofthe casting 158. The marginal strip 194 is identical to the marginalstrip 192 and is formed by an elongated member 204 having first andsecond end portions 206 and 208', which are riveted or otherwisesuitably connected to the respective end portions 106 and 108 of theframe 104, with the first end portion 206 being connected to the sidewall 136 of the casting 128 and the second end portion 208 beingconnected to the side wall 166 of the casting 158.

In addition, the holder 10 comprises adjustable slipjoint means 210 foradjustably changing the relative positions of the first and second endportions 106 and 108 of the frame 104 and thereby adjustably flexing thefile 102 into a selected flat or concavely or convexly curvedconfiguration. The slip-joint means 210 embodies the adjustable topportion 1112 of the frame 104 and includes an elongated rod 212, whichis mounted to the second end portion 108 in a fixed manner and to thefirst end portion 106 in an adjustable manner, and releasable lookingmeans 214 for releasably locking the rod 212 to the second end portion108 to maintain the relative positions of the first and second endportions 106 and 10 8 of the frame 104 and thereby maintain the file 102in a selected configuration.

One end 216 of the rod 212 is threaded. A longitudinally inwardlydirected socket 218, the inner end 2120 of which is threaded, is formedin the inner ridge 168 of the casting 158. A vertically downwardlydirected cavity 222, which is intersected by the socket 218, is formedin the underside of the inner ridge $1 68, and a bore 224 is formedthrough the top wall 162 of the casting 1 58 into the cavity 222. Aneyebolt 226 is arranged in the cavity 222 so as to extend upwardlythrough the bore 220, and the rod 212 is arranged within the socket 2'18so as to pass through the eye 2428 of the eyebolt 226. The rod 212 istightly threaded into the socket 218- and may be fixed in place by asuitable set screw (not shown) or otherwise.

A longitudinal bore .230 is formed through the casting 128 in the innerridge 138. A vertically downwardly directed cavity 232, which isintersected by the bore 230, is formed in the underside of the innerridge 138, and a bore 234 is formed through the top wall 132 of thecasting 128 into the cavity 232. An eyebolt 236 is arranged in thecavity 232 so as to extend upwardly through the bore 234, and the rod212 is arranged through the bore 230 so as to pass through the eye 238of the eyebolt 236. The bore 230 loosely fits around the rod 212 andprovides suflicient clearance around the rod 212 to permit the rod 212to slip through the bore 230 without binding as the file 102 is flexedin the manner to be described.

The releasable locking means .214 comprises the eyebolt 236 and abolt-receiving member 240 having a threaded socket 242 for the eyebolt236. The rod 212 keeps the eyebolt 236 from turning with thebolt-receiving member 240. 'For convenience, the bolt-receiving member240 is elongated and rounded to provide a first hand-grip r handle 244.When the eyebolt 236 is tightened, by turning the handle 244, the rod212 is drawn into binding engagement with the casting 128. When theeyebolt 236 is loosened, the rod 212 is permitted to slip through thebore 230 'without binding.

A second hand-grip or handle 246 is provided by a similarly shapedbolt-receiving member 248 having a threaded socket 250 for the eyebolt226. The rod 212 keeps the eyebolt from turning .with the bolt-receivingmember 248.

The handles 244 and 246 facilitate manual adjustment of the slip-jointmeans 210'. The handle 244 normally is tightened only finger-tight, inorder that the eyebolt 236 may be loosened without difiiculty by turningthe handle 244 relative thereto. When the eyebolt 236 has been loosened,the slip-joint means 210 may be adjusted by pulling apart or pushingtogether the handles 244 and 246, whereupon the eyebolt 236 should betightened by turning the handle 244 relative thereto.

In other respects, the holder is similar to the holder 10. One advantageof the holder 10 over the holder 100 is the one-piece construction ofthe frame 14 of the holder 10.

CONCLUSION Although the presently preferred embodiment of this inventionand an alternative embodiment thereof have been described withparticularity, it should be understood that disclosure of the inventionhas been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in thedetails of construction and in the combinations and arrangements ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. A holder for an elongated flexible file having first and second ends,said holder comprising, in combination, a flexible frame including asurface adapted to engage a flat side of the file and first and secondend portions adapted to be removably fixed to the respective ends of theflexible file, and adjustable slip-joint means operatively associatedwith the end portions of the frame for adjustably fixing the relativepositions of the first and second end portions of the frame and therebyadapted to adjustably fiex the frame and flexible file into a selectedflat, concavely curved or convexly curved configuration, wherein theslip-joint means includes adjustably overlapping top portions of theframe, which top portions are connected to the respective first andsecond end portions of the frame, and releasable locking means forreleasably locking together the adjustably overlapping top portions ofthe frame to maintain the relative position of the first and second endportions of the frame, and wherein one top portion of the frame isformed with a plurality of corrugations, and wherein the other topportion of the frame is formed with a plurality of corrugations adaptedto interfit the corrugations of said one top portion at any of aplurality of overlapping positions of said top portions, said pluralityof overlapping positions corresponding to respective adjustments of theslip-joint means.

2. A holder for an elongated flexible file having first and second ends,said holder comprising, in combination, a flexible frame including asurface adapted to engage a fiat side of the file and first and secondend portions adapted to be removably fixed to the respective ends of theflexible file, and adjustably slip-joint means operatively associatedwith the end portions of the frame for adjustably fixing the relativepositions of the first and second end portions of the frame and therebyadapted to adjustably flex the frame and flexible file into a selectedflat, concavely curved or convexly curved configuration, wherein theslip-joint means includes adjustably overlapping top portions of theframe, which top portions are connected to the respective first andsecond end portions of the frame, and releasable locking means forreleasably locking together the adjustably overlapping top portions ofthe frame to maintain the relative positions of the first and second endportions of the frame, and wherein the frame and the first and secondend portions of the frame and the first and second top portions of theframe are formed in one piece.

3. A holder for an elongated flexible file having first and second ends,said holder comprising a flexible frame including a bottom surfaceadapted to engage a flat side of the file, first and second end portionsadapted to be removably fixed to the respective ends of the flexiblefile, and top portions extending from the respective first and secondend portions and disposed in an adjustable overlapping arrangement; andmeans for releasably clamping said overlapping top portions together tohold the relative positions of said first and second end portions ofsaid frame in a fixed position after the frame and flexible file havebeen flexed into a selected flat, concavely curved or convexly curvedconfiguration.

4. The holder of claim 3, wherein the frame engages the file by twomarginal strips laterally bordering an open central area.

5. The holder of claim 3 further comprising first and second clip meansoperatively associated with the end portions of the frame for removablyfixing the respective end portions of the frame to the respective endsof the flexible file.

6. A holder for an elongated flexible file having first and second ends,said holder comprising, in combination, a flexible frame including asurface adapted to engage a flat side of the file and first and secondend portions adapted to be removably fixed to the respective ends of theflexible file, and adjustable slip-joint means operatively associatedwith the end portions of the frame for adjustably fixing the relativepositions of the first and second end portions of the frame and therebyadapted to adjustably flex the frame and flexible file into a selectedflat, concavely curved or convexly curved configuration, and first andsecond clip means operatively associated with the end portions of theframe for removably fixing the respective end portions of the frame tothe respective ends of the flexible file, and wherein the respectivefirst and second end portions of the frame have respective tab-receivingopenings therein, the flexible file has an upturned tab on itsrespective first and second ends with said tabs being back turned towardeach other, and each clip means comprises outer and inner clip membersdisposed on opposite sides of the respective end portion of the frameand stud means for drawing together said outer and inner clip members,the tabs on the respective ends of the flexible file being adapted to bereceived by the respective tab-receiving openings and extending betweenthe outer and inner clip members of the respective clip means with theouter and inner clip members of the respective clip means being adaptedto be drawn together to positively press the flexible file against saidsurface of the frame.

7. The holder of claim 6 wherein the frame engages the file by twomarginal strips laterally bordering an open central area.

8. A holder for a flexible file having first and second ends and anupturned tab at each end, said holder comprising, in combination, aflexible frame including a surface adapted to engage a flat side of thefile and first and second end portions adapted to be removably fixed tothe respective ends of the flexible file, and clip means operativelyassociated with the end portions of the frame for removably fixing therespective end portions of the frame to the respective ends of theflexible file, said clip means being adapted to exert a positive bendingmoment on each of said tabs to thereby positively press the flexiblefile against said surface of the frame.

9. The holder of claim 8 together with means for adjustably changing therelative positions of the first and second end portions of the frame andthereby flexing the frame into a selected flat or concavely curved orconvexly curved configuration, said clip means causing the flexible fileto continue in engagement with said surface of the frame at all of theframes configurations.

10. The holder of claim 8, wherein the frame engages the file by twomarginal strips laterally bordering an open central area.

11. A holder for a fiexible file having first and second ends and anupturned tab at each end, said holder comprising, in combination, aflexible frame including a surface adapted to engage a flat side of thefile and first and second end portions adapted to be removably fixed tothe respective ends of the flexible file, and clip means operativelyassociated with the end portions of the frame for removably fixing therespective end portions of the frame to the respective ends of theflexible file, said clip means being adapted to exert a resultant forceon each of said tabs whereby the flexible file is urged into engagementwith said surface of the frame, and wherein the first and second endportions of the frame have tabreceiving openings therein and each clipmeans comprises outer and inner clip means disposed on opposite sides ofthe respective end portions of the frame and means for drawing saidouter and inner clip members toward each other, the tabs on therespective ends of the flexible file being adapted to be received by therespective tab-receiving openings and to extend between the outer andinner clip members of the respective clip means, said outer and innerclip members of the respective clip means, when drawn toward each other,being adapted to engage a tab at different locations and thereby toexert a couple on said tab whereby the flexible file is urged againstsaid surface of the frame.

12. The holder of claim 11 wherein the outer and inner clip members eachhave pivotal engagement on opposite sides of an end portion of theframe.

13. The holder of claim 3, further comprising first and second handlesconnected to said top portions adjacent to the respective end portionsof said frame, wherein one of said handles includes said means forreleasably clamping said top portions together.

14. The holder of claim 3, wherein one top portion of the frame isformed with a plurality of corrugations, and wherein the other topportion of the frame is formed with a plurality of corrugations adaptedto interfit the corrugations of said one top portion at any of aplurality of overlapping positions of said top portions, wherein saidplurality of overlapping positions correspond to respective adjustmentsof said releasably clamping means.

15. The holder of claim 3, wherein the frame and the first and secondend portions of the frame and the top portions of the frame are formedin one piece.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,721,822 7/1929 Kroiss 29-781,956,882 5/1934 Stowell 29-80 2,127,176 8/ 1938 Kroecker 29-802,208,837 7/1940 Eix 2980 2,258,537 10/ 1941 Burrell 29'8O 2,645,002 7/1953 Dailey et al. 2980 2,839,817 6/ 1958 Huxtable et al. 29-803,123,947 3/1964 Rawley 2978 X 3,174,363 3/1965 Staiger et al. 7624HARRISON L. HINSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

